Managing linked contact records containing information from multiple source records

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides for management of linked contact records containing information from multiple source records. User interfaces and methodologies for displaying and managing a linked contact record of a contact allow the linked contact record to be readily and selectively managed. A user can interact with a user interface in order to selectively add, remove, and re-store links to a linked contact record of a contact.

BACKGROUND

Personal information manager (PIM) software applications are computerprograms that allow a user to maintain and organize various types ofpersonal information and which provide electronic mail (email)functionality. PIM software applications (or simply “PIM applications”)typically maintain personal information in distinct informationcategories. The information categories that are maintained usuallyinclude an email message inbox, an email message outbox, a set ofpreviously transmitted email messages or “sent items”, an address bookcontaining contact information, a scheduling calendar (or i.e. a set ofappointments, notes, and a list of tasks to be completed). PIMapplications may be designed for execution by a wireless communicationdevice.

In certain personal information management (PIM) applications, contactinformation about a user's contacts may be provided to the user via auser dashboard user interface. It is often the case that informationabout a particular contact, whether an individual or a company, can andoften does come from many sources, including social network sites thathave a vast amount of contact information about people and companies. Itwould be useful to provide a way to effectively, selectively and easilymanage the presentation of contact information from widely disparatesources to users of such applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described belowwith reference to the included drawings such that like referencenumerals refer to like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communications system, in accordance withvarious example embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system, inaccordance with various example embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of managing a linked contact record,in accordance with various example embodiments of the presentdisclosure; and

FIGS. 4 to 15 illustrate representative examples of user dashboardgraphical user interfaces, in accordance with various exampleembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the various example embodiments presented herein,management of linked contact records containing information frommultiple source records is provided. User interfaces and methodologiesfor displaying and managing a linked contact record of a contact allowthe linked contact record to be readily and selectively managed. A usercan interact with a user interface in order to selectively add, remove,and re-store links to a linked contact record of a contact. The userinterface is intuitive and easy to use.

Therefore, in accordance with an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure, there is provided a method of managing a linked contactrecord representative of contact information from multiple sources,including: after receiving selection of a linked contact record of acontact, that includes a number of linked source contact records of thecontact, displaying in a user interface the linked contact record and avisual indicator that the linked contact record has a linked status; andafter receiving an input to enter a manage mode, entering the managemode in which the linked contact record of the contact can beselectively managed.

In accordance with another example embodiment of the present disclosure,there is provided a system having a processor and a contacts databasecoupled to the processor in which contact information about a number ofcontacts is stored, the processor and contacts database configured asfollows. After receiving selection of a linked contact record of acontact, that includes a plurality of linked source contact records ofthe contact, the linked contact record and a visual indicator that thelinked contact record has a linked status are displayed in a userinterface. After receiving an input to enter a manage mode, the managemode in which the linked contact record of the contact can beselectively managed is entered.

In accordance with a further example embodiment of the presentdisclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable mediumhaving computer-executable instructions for causing a server having aprocessor and associated memory to implement the following. Afterreceiving selection of a linked contact record of a contact, thatincludes a plurality of linked source contact records of the contact,displaying in a user interface the linked contact record and a visualindicator that the linked contact record has a linked status. Afterreceiving an input to enter a manage mode, entering the manage mode inwhich the linked contact record of the contact can be selectivelymanaged.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, reference numerals may berepeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. Numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding ofthe example embodiments described herein. The example embodiments may bepracticed without these details. In other instances, well-known methods,procedures, and components have not been described in detail to avoidobscuring the example embodiments described. The description is not tobe considered as limited to the scope of the example embodimentsdescribed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a distributed communicationssystem 100 that includes a service 110 that may be provided with contactinformation from third party contact sources 160 and is incommunications with communication device 150 via communications network140 as shown. As shown, third party contact sources 160 may provideinformation about contacts to the communication device 150 and/or theservice 110. Although communications network 140 may be the World WideWeb or Internet, and in fact search various servers/processors 112associated with service 110 may reside on the World Wide Web, it isunderstood that the service servers and one or more communicationdevices 150 may be coupled together by various types of networks, suchas local area networks (LANs), other wide area networks (WANs) andregional networks accessed over telephone lines, such as commercialinformation services. In an example embodiment, service 110 may beincluded in the communication device 150.

Communication device 150 is a two-way electronic communication devicehaving at least data and possibly also voice communication capabilities,and the capability to communicate with other communication devices orcomputer systems, for example, via the Internet. A communication device150 may further be a mobile or handheld electronic device and may bewireless. Depending on the functionality provided by the communicationdevice 150, in the various examples described herein, the device may bea data communication device, a multiple-mode communication deviceconfigured for both data and voice communication, a smartphone, a mobiletelephone or a personal digital assistant PDA (personal digitalassistant) enabled for wireless communication, or a computer system witha wireless modem. Other examples of communication devices 150 includemobile, or handheld, wireless communication devices such as pagers,cellular phones, cellular smart-phones, wireless organizers, wirelesslyenabled notebook computers, tablet computing devices, and so forth.Communication device 150 may also be a portable electronic devicewithout wireless communication capabilities, such as a handheldelectronic game device, digital photograph album, digital camera, orother device.

Service 110 may include one or more servers or processors 112, a memory114, a contacts database 116, and a contact association element 118, asshown. The service 110 may be provided by a data center, for example,that uses a large number of servers/processors 112 in racks. Server 112of service 110 may have a number of different servers, with each serverhaving one or more processors, contacts databases 116, and memories 114.The server 112 may be by way of example, and not limitation, a NetworkOperations Center (NOC), such as a Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES),or other central server arrangement that can combine many socialnetworks and manage them collectively. Load balancing between variousservers 112 may be employed in example configurations.

While contacts database 116 encompasses the functionality of a contactsdatabase, it is understood that such databases may reside within one ormany databases to which the service 110 has access. A contacts database116 stores contact information available on the Internet, for example.The contacts stored in the contacts database may be acquired from acommunication device 150 directly (for example, from a PIM applicationexecuting on the communication device), from a third party contactsource 160, such as social network sites that have a vast amount ofcontact information, or from a user of the communication device 150electing to provide certain of the user's contacts stored on the device.The service 110 can also directly acquire contact information and storethem in the contacts database 116. As will be discussed, the user of thecommunication device 150 may be presented with an option to manage alinked contact record of a contact made up of two or more linked sourcecontact records.

In keeping with various examples, service 110 can acquire contacts froma user's communication device 150 and/or various third party contactsources 160. The contact association element 118 of service 110associates contact information with a user's contacts. User contacts maybe obtained directly from the communication device 150. Contactinformation may also be obtained from a variety of sources on theInternet, including but not limited to GMAIL, Google contacts, socialnetwork contacts (such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, etc.). Thiscontact association is performed by contact association element 118 ofthe service 110.

The user can decide whether to opt-in to the service provided by service110 or it may be provided automatically. A PIM application that executeson the communication device 150 may prompt the user to decide whether toopt-in, or this may occur when the user activates the visual indicatorof a linked contact record in order to manage the linked contact record,which may include changing, adding to, or deleting one or more sourcecontact records of the linked contact record. This method is furtherillustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the graphical user interfacesof FIGS. 4-15 of the drawings, described below.

To illustrate an example embodiment system architecture, FIG. 2 shows ablock diagram of a wireless communication system 200 which includes acommunication device 210, such as a wireless or mobile communicationdevice, which communicates through a wireless communication network 250,to a server 295. An example wireless implementation of communicationdevice 210 and a wireless communication network 250 with which itcommunicates will now be discussed. Communication device 210 has adisplay 212, a keyboard 214, and perhaps one or more auxiliary userinterfaces (UI) 216, each of which are coupled to a controller 218.Controller 218 is also coupled to radio frequency (RF) transceivercircuitry 220 and an antenna 221. Controller 218 may be embodied as acentral processing unit (CPU) which runs operating system software in amemory component (not shown). Controller 218 will normally controloverall operation of communication device 210, whereas signal processingoperations associated with communication functions may be performed inRF transceiver circuitry 220. Controller 218 interfaces with display 212to display received information, stored information, user inputs, andthe like. Keyboard 214, which may be a telephone type keypad or fullalphanumeric keyboard, is normally provided for entering data forstorage in communication device 210, information for transmission towireless communication network 250, a telephone number to place atelephone call, commands to be executed on electronic communicationdevice 210, and possibly other or different user inputs.

Communication device 210 sends communication signals to and receivescommunication signals from wireless communication network 250 over awireless link via antenna 221. RF transceiver circuitry 220 performsfunctions similar to those of a tower station 270 and a base stationcontroller (BSC) 260, including for example modulation/demodulation andpossibly encoding/decoding and encryption/decryption. It is alsocontemplated that RF transceiver circuitry 220 may perform certainfunctions in addition to those performed by BSC 260. It will be apparentto those skilled in art that RF transceiver circuitry 220 will beadapted to particular wireless network or networks in whichcommunication device 210 is intended to operate. When communicationdevice 210 is fully operational, an RF transmitter of RF transceivercircuitry 220 is typically keyed or turned on only when it is sending tonetwork, and is otherwise turned off to conserve resources. Similarly,an RF receiver of RF transceiver circuitry 220 is typically periodicallyturned off to conserve power until it is needed to receive signals orinformation (if at all) during designated time periods.

Communication device 210 includes a battery interface 226 for receivingone or more rechargeable batteries 240. Battery 240 provides electricalpower to electrical circuitry in communication device 210, and batteryinterface 226 provides for a mechanical and electrical connection forbattery 240. Battery interface 226 is coupled to a regulator 228 whichregulates power to the device. Communication device 210 may be ahandheld portable communication device, which includes a housing (e.g. aplastic housing) which carries and contains the electrical components ofcommunication device 210 including battery 240. Communication device 210operates using a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) 230 which is connectedto or inserted in communication device 210 at a SIM interface 224. SIM230 is one type of a conventional “smart card” used to identify an enduser (or subscriber) of communication device 210 and to personalize thedevice, among other things. Without SIM 230, the communication deviceterminal is not fully operational for communication through wirelesscommunication network 250. By inserting SIM 230 into communicationdevice 210, an end user can have access to any and all of his/hersubscribed services. SIM 230 generally includes a processor and memoryfor storing information. Since SIM 230 is coupled to SIM interface 224,it is coupled to controller 218 through communication lines 222. Inorder to identify the subscriber, SIM 230 contains some user parameterssuch as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An advantageof using SIM 230 is that end users are not necessarily bound by anysingle physical mobile communication device. SIM 230 may storeadditional user information for the communication device 210 as well,including datebook (or calendar) information and recent callinformation.

Communication device 210 may consist of a single unit, such as a datacommunication device, a cellular telephone, a multiple-functioncommunication device with data and voice communication capabilities, apersonal digital assistant (PDA) enabled for wireless communication, ora computer incorporating an internal modem. Communication device 210 maybe a handheld portable communication device which includes a housing(e.g. a plastic housing) which carries and contains the electricalcomponents of communication device 210. Alternatively, communicationdevice 210 may be a multiple-module unit including a plurality ofseparate components, including but in no way limited to a computer orother device connected to a wireless modem. In particular, for example,RF transceiver circuitry 220 and antenna 221 may be implemented as aradio modem unit that may be inserted into a port on a laptop computer.In this case, the laptop computer would include display 212, keyboard214, one or more auxiliary UIs 216, and controller 218 embodied as thecomputer's CPU. It is also contemplated that a computer or otherequipment not normally capable of wireless communication may be adaptedto connect to and effectively assume control of RF transceiver circuitry220 and antenna 221 of a single-unit device such as one of thosedescribed above.

Communication device 210 communicates in and through wirelesscommunication network 250. Wireless communication network 250 may be acellular telecommunications network. In an example embodiment, wirelesscommunication network 250 is configured in accordance with GeneralPacket Radio Service (GPRS) and a Global Systems for Mobile (GSM)technologies. Today, such a mobile communication device may furtheroperate in accordance with Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), as described in the Background section. Insuch environment, wireless communication network 250 includes a basestation controller (BSC) 260 with an associated tower station 270, aMobile Switching Center (MSC) 252, a Home Location Register (HLR) 254, aServing General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) 258, anda Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 256. MSC 252 is coupled to BSC 260and to a landline network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN) 280. SGSN 258 is coupled to BSC 260 and to GGSN 256, which is inturn coupled to a public or private data network 290 (such as theInternet). HLR 254 is coupled to MSC 252, SGSN 258, and GGSN 256.

Station 270 is a fixed transceiver station, and station 270 and BSC 260may be referred to as transceiver equipment. The transceiver equipmentprovides wireless network coverage for a particular coverage areacommonly referred to as a “cell”. The transceiver equipment transmitscommunication signals to and receives communication signals from mobilecommunication devices within its cell via station 270. The transceiverequipment normally performs such functions as modulation and possiblyencoding and encryption of signals to be transmitted to the mobilecommunication device in accordance with particular, usuallypredetermined, communication protocols and parameters, under control ofits controller. The transceiver equipment similarly demodulates andpossibly decodes and decrypts, if necessary, any communication signalsreceived from communication device 210 within its cell. Communicationprotocols and parameters may vary between different networks. Forexample, one network may employ a different modulation scheme andoperate at different frequencies than other networks.

The wireless link shown in communication system 200 of FIG. 2 representsone or more different channels, typically different radio frequency (RF)channels, and associated protocols used between wireless communicationnetwork 250 and communication device 210. An RF channel is a limitedresource to be conserved, due to limits in overall bandwidth and alimited battery power of communication device 210. Those skilled in artwill appreciate that a wireless network in actual practice may includehundreds of cells, each served by a station 270 (i.e. or stationsector), depending upon desired overall expanse of network coverage. Allpertinent components may be connected by multiple switches and routers(not shown), controlled by multiple network controllers.

For all communication devices 210 registered with a network operator,permanent data (such as communication device 210 user's profile) as wellas temporary data (such as communication device's 210 current location)are stored in HLR 254. In case of a voice call to communication device210, HLR 254 is queried to determine the current location ofcommunication device 210. A Visitor Location Register (VLR) of MSC 252is responsible for a group of location areas and stores the data ofthose mobile communication devices that are currently in its area ofresponsibility. This includes parts of the permanent communicationdevice data that have been transmitted from HLR 254 to the VLR forfaster access. However, the VLR of MSC 252 may also assign and storelocal data, such as temporary identifications. Optionally, the VLR ofMSC 252 can be enhanced for more efficient co-ordination of GPRS andnon-GPRS services and functionality (e.g. paging for circuit-switchedcalls which can be performed more efficiently via SGSN 258, and combinedGPRS and non-GPRS location updates).

Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 258 is at the same hierarchical levelas MSC 252 and keeps track of the individual locations of communicationdevices. SGSN 258 also performs security functions and access control.Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 256 provides interworking with externalpacket-switched networks and is connected with SGSNs (such as SGSN 258)via an IP-based GPRS backbone network. SGSN 258 performs authenticationand cipher setting procedures based on algorithms, keys, and criteria(e.g. as in existing GSM). In conventional operation, cell selection maybe performed autonomously by communication device 210 or by thetransceiver equipment instructing communication device 210 to select aparticular cell. Communication device 210 informs wireless communicationnetwork 250 when it reselects another cell or group of cells, known as arouting area.

In order to access GPRS services, communication device 210 first makesits presence known to wireless communication network 250 by performingwhat is known as a GPRS “attach”. This operation establishes a logicallink between communication device 210 and SGSN 258 and makescommunication device 210 available to receive, for example, pages viaSGSN, notifications of incoming GPRS data, or SMS messages over GPRS. Inorder to send and receive GPRS data, communication device 210 assists inactivating the packet data address that it wants to use. This operationmakes communication device 210 known to GGSN 256; interworking withexternal data networks can thereafter commence. User data may betransferred transparently between communication device 210 and theexternal data networks using, for example, encapsulation and tunneling.Data packets are equipped with GPRS-specific protocol information andtransferred between communication device 210 and GGSN 256.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a methodology in accordance with variousexample embodiments disclosed herein is provided. In flowchart 300, atBlock 310 upon selection of a linked contact record of a contact formedfrom a number of linked source contact records of the contact, displayin a user interface the linked contact record and a visual indicator ofthe linked contact record.

As will be shown, selection of the linked contact record may includeselection of the linked contact record from a contact list displayed inthe user interface. The linked contact record and the visual indicatorof the linked contact record may be displayed in a contact detail panelof the user interface upon selection of the linked contact record. Thevisual indicator of the linked contact record may indicate the number oflinked source contact records of the linked contact record, thus thedisplay may further include displaying a badge of the visual indicatorwith the linked contact record in the contact details panel of the userinterface, where the badge of the visual indicator indicates the numberof linked source contact records of the linked contact record. As willbe described, the visual indicator may be a link icon, as shown insubsequent figures, or the visual indicator may be highlighting,outlining, a blinking display, bolding, text, etc.

At Block 320, after receiving an input to enter a manage mode, such asby activation of the visual indicator, which may be a link icon, of thelinked contact record in the user interface, a manage mode in which thelinked contact record of the contact can be selectively managed isentered. Entering a manage mode may be accomplished in other ways, suchas by selecting an option in a menu or by responding to a prompt toenter into a manage mode. A linked contact record can be selectivelymanaged by adding linked, removing links, restoring linked to availablebut currently unlinked source records for a particular contact.

While the blocks including the methods are shown as occurring in aparticular order, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat many of the blocks are interchangeable and can occur in differentorders than that shown without materially affecting the end results ofthe methods.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 15, examples of a user's dashboard graphicaluser interface in accordance with various examples are provided. Theuser's dashboard graphical user interface may be implemented in adisplay of communications device 150 of FIG. 1 or the communicationdevice 210 of FIG. 2.

In the example embodiment dashboard graphical user interface 400 of FIG.4, presentation of information about one or more contacts is provided toa user. On a display, such as a touch screen display, of a communicationdevice, the user's dashboard may include a number of contacts displayedin a contact list 420. The source of contacts displayed may include theuser's contacts database, Facebook, etc., either stored on the user'sdevice, for example, or obtained by the service 110 from any number ofsources, such as social networking sites, for example, over theInternet. Selection of a given contact, in this example Julie Palmer, isindicated by the shaded area of selected linked contact record 410 incontact list 420, causes the linked contact record 440 of Julie Palmerto be displayed in a contact detail panel 430 of the touch screendisplay. After receiving selection of the details tab 450, the contactdetail panel 430 displays information about this selected contact,including address, phone, chat, and email contact information. Othertabs 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, when selection is received, the contactdetails panel 420 might show status, news meetings, people, places,etc., depending upon the selected tab. Also presented in the contactdetail panel 430 is a link icon 460 of the linked contact record 440that indicates that this contact record is in fact a linked contactrecord 440 or has a linked status. (In other example embodiments, avisual indicator other than an icon may be used, such as highlighting oroutlining the linked contact record 440, “blinking” the display of thelinked contact record 440, making the text at the linked contact record440 bold, providing text at or nearby the linked contact record 440indicating its linked status, or other visual indicators.) Associatedwith link icon 460 is badge 470, which indicates the number of automaticor existing links that make up the linked contact record.

As shown, selection of a contact record may include selection of aselected linked contact record 410 from a contact list 240 displayed inthe user interface. The linked contact record 440 and the link icon 460of the linked contact record may be displayed in a contact detail panel430 of the user interface upon selection of the linked contact record410 from the contact list. The link icon 460 of the linked contactrecord may indicate the number of linked source contact records of thelinked contact record, thus the display may further include displaying abadge 470 of the link icon with the linked contact record in the contactdetails panel of the user interface, where the badge of the link iconindicates the number of linked source contact records of the linkedcontact record. In this particular example, it can be seen that theJulie Palmer linked contact record is made up of four linked sourcecontact records, as indicated by the badge 470 displaying “4.”

In FIG. 5, the example embodiment graphical user interface 500 againdisplays the selected linked contact record for Julie Palmer. In thisscreenshot, it can be seen that the link icon 460 of linked contactrecord 440 is activated by being selected on the touch screen of thedisplay. This activation 510 is indicated by the cross-hatched circlesurrounding link icon 460. In response to activation 510 of the linkicon of the linked contact record in the user interface, a manage modein which the linked contact record of the contact can be selectivelymanaged can now be entered, as shown in FIGS. 6-15. Moreover, activationof the link icon in FIG. 5, results in entry into the manage mode, inwhich the linked source contacts that make up the linked contact recordare displayed, and even source contact records that are not linked or nolonger linked to the linked contact record may be displayed, as will beshown.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the example embodiment graphical user interface600 illustrates the user interface in the manage mode. It can be seenthat contact detail panel 430 in which the details of linked contactrecord 440 are displayed, has moved to the left of the touch screendisplay. Linked profile panel 610 is on the right side of the displayand is labelled “Linked Profiles” in this example. The linked profilepanel 610 displays a number of representations, including linked contactrecord representation 620, representative of the linked contact record440, and a number, four in this example, of source contact recordrepresentations 630, representative of the four linked source contactrecords that make up linked contact record 440. Available contactpictures from each source contact record may also be illustrated in thesource contact record representations 630, as shown. In addition, badgesfrom the sources, such as social network sites or services such asFacebook and Twitter, may also be included in the source contact recordrepresentations 630, as shown. The source contact record representations630 are shown as indented under linked contact record representation620, although this is not a requirement.

In addition, the link status of a source contact record represented by asource contact record representation 630 is indicated by the link icon640 of a particular source contact record representation. The linkstatus of a source contact record to the linked contact record may belinked or unlinked. In this particular user interface 600, it can beseen that the linked status of each of the four source contact recordsrepresented by the source contact record representations 630 isindicated as “linked” by the link icons 640. It is noted that selectionof the link icon 640 of any source contact representation 630 will allowthe link status of selected source contact record to be changed, such asfrom linked to unlinked. This is further illustrated in FIG. 12.

It can be seen that in the manage mode following activation of thevisual indicator of a linked contact record, a linked contact recordrepresentation of the linked contact record and a number of sourcecontact record representations corresponding to source contact recordsthat make up the linked contact record are displayed in the userinterface. Thus, for contacts with multiple linked profiles or datasources, the individual linked source contact records making up thelinked contact record are displayed. The source contact recordsrepresentations corresponding to the source contact records may bedisplayed as indented under the linked contact record representation,though this is not required. Further, as illustrated in this particularexample, the linked contact record representation and the plurality ofsource contact record representations may be displayed in a linkedprofile panel of the user interface. Moreover, it can be seen for thateach source contact record representation a source contact recordrepresentation link icon that indicates a link status of the sourcecontact record represented by the source contact record representationto the linked contact record can be displayed as well. The link statusof the source contact record representation link icon for each linkedsource contact record is linked in this particular example, but may alsobe unlinked, as is the case where a source contact record has beenunlinked from the linked contact record, as shown in FIG. 13, forexample.

The linked profile panel 610 additionally has an add link icon 650 thatallows a source contact record to be added to the linked contact record,as will be described in connection with FIGS. 7 to 11. A user may selector tap the add link icon 650 to add a link in the manage mode. Thisselection or tap is represented by the hatched circular representation710 over the “Add Link” term in the example embodiment shown ingraphical user interface 700 of FIG. 7. As will be described, activation710 of the add link icon 650 allows a user to search for additionalsource contact records of a particular contact to be added to a linkedcontact record for that contact.

In FIG. 8, the example embodiment graphical user interface 800illustrates that in response to selection or activation of the add linkicon 650, a search window 810 with a search field 820 and a touch screenkeypad 830 will appear in the user interface. The user may use the touchscreen keypad 830 to enter a search term that will be used to search forother source contact records of the particular contact, in this caseJulie Palmer, which may be added to the linked contact record for JuliePalmer if selected. FIG. 8, then, shows the search window provided tothe user in the graphical user interface so that the user can enter asearch. In particular, reference number 840 indicates a user selectingthe letter “j” of touch screen keyboard 830, shown in the search field820 of FIG. 9.

In the example embodiment graphical user interface 900 of FIG. 9, it canbe seen that has a user starts to enter a search term 910 in searchfield 820, possible matches to the search term will be illustrated inthe search window. In particular, three possible matches as listed assource contact record representations 920 each with a source contactrecord representation 930 indicating the link status of a particularsource contact record that is represented. In this example, entry by theuser of the search term “j” in search field 820 causes three sourcecontact record representations to be listed: Jeanette deBoer, Julie P,and Justin Jones. Only one of the three, Julie P via LinkedIn, is asource contact record representation of a source record for the desiredcontact, Julie Palmer. The user can make a selection 940 of this sourcecontact representation 920 to view the source contact record. LinkedIn®is an example of a social networking service/site and is referred toherein as LinkedIn.

The selected source contact record, Julie P via LinkedIn, is viewed inthe example embodiment graphical user interface 1000 of FIG. 10. Inaddition to search window 810, the user interface has a search resultdetail panel 1010 in which details 1020 of the selected new sourcecontact record Julie P are displayed. It can be seen that the sourcecontact record representation 920 of the selected new source contactrecord Julie P has a link icon that can be selected, as indicated by theencircled hatched area 1030, in order to add information of the newcontact source record to the linked contact record. In this particularexample, it can be seen that the work email address jpalmer@pnx.com,designated by 1040, is new information not currently in the linkedcontact record (440 of FIGS. 4 and 7) of Julie Palmer. Adding the newsource contact source record makes it a new linked source contact recordof the linked contact record for Julie Palmer.

The linked contact record for Julie Palmer will now have five linkedsource contact records, counting the newly added source contact record.The badge of the link icon for Julie Palmer will be updated to reflectfive (5) links. This is illustrated in example embodiment graphical userinterface 1100 of FIG. 11. In contact detail panel 430, a new linkedcontact record 1110 of the updated Julie Palmer linked contact isillustrated. It can be seen that the new work email addressjpalmer@pnx.com, designated by 1040, in included in the new linkedrecord. In linked profile panel 610, the linked contact recordrepresentation 620 of the new linked contact record 1110 now reflectsfive (5) linked profiles or records for this contact, which aredisplayed in linked profile panel 610 as source contact recordrepresentations 630. Each of the source contact record representations630 has a link icon 640 conveying the linked status as “linked.” Anindividual source contact record, such as the newly added Julie P viaLinkedIn, may be selected by the user making a selection 1120 of thedesired indicated source contact record representation 630, as shown.

Selection 1120 of the Julie P via LinkedIn source contact recordrepresentation in FIG. 11 causes detail of the source contact record ofthe Julie P LinkedIn source record to be displayed 1210 as shown in theexample embodiment graphical user interface 1200 of FIG. 12. The usercan then select any of the link icons 640 of the listed source contactrecord representations 630 if desired to change the link statusdisplayed by link icon 640. In this example, a user has made a selection1220 the link icon 640 of the Julie P via LinkedIn source contact recordrepresentation 630. Since the status indicated by the link icon 640 ofthe Julie P via LinkedIn source contact record is linked, selecting thelink icon will remove this source contact record from the linked contactrecord for Julie Palmer. This is illustrated by the unlinked statusindicated by the broken link icon 1310 of example embodiment graphicaluser interface 1300 of FIG. 13 that is associated with Julie P viaLinkedIn contact source record representation. Removing a link of asource contact record to the linked contact record does not delete thesource contact record information; rather, it is just not linked to thelinked contact record. Additionally, the number of linked profiles isupdated from five to four (4), as indicated by reference number 1320. Itcan be seen that the linked contact record 440 of Julie Palmer displayedin contact detail panel 430 no longer contains work addressjpalmer@pnx.com (1040 of FIG. 11) from the unlinked source record. Auser may re-select the link icon associated with Julie P via LinkedIn atany time to re-link this source contact record to the linked contactrecord for Julie Palmer.

As illustrated in example embodiment graphical user interface 1400 ofFIG. 14, the user may select the save icon 1410 to save the new linkedcontact record for Julie Palmer. The manage mode is exited, and thesaved new linked contact record for Julie Palmer is displayed as savedlinked contact record 440 with changes applied in contact detail panel430 in graphical user interface 1500 of FIG. 15. Also shown in thenon-manage mode is the selected linked contact record 410 in contactlist 420.

It can be seen from the foregoing description that activation of an addlink icon displayed in the user interface while in the manage mode,allows a user to search for and select a new source contact record of aparticular contact so that a new linked contact record containing newinformation may be added to the linked contact record. In response to areceived search term a search for additionally available source contactrecords for a contact is performed. In response to selection of the newsource contact record returned by the search, a link to the new sourcecontact record may be added to create a new linked contact record of thecontact. The received search term and selection of the new sourcecontact record may be received in a search window of the user interfaceas discussed above. Additionally, a visual indicator, such as a linkicon, of the new linked contact record is updated to reflect linkage ofthe new source contact record in the new linked contact record of thecontact. This may include updating a badge of the visual indicator ofthe new linked contact record.

In addition to adding a new link to a linked contact record, removing alink of a linked source contact record to the linked contact recordwhile in the manage mode has been described. Removal of the link of thelinked source contact record to the linked contact record may include ina linked profile panel of the user interface in which a linked contactrecord representation of the linked contact record and linked sourcecontact record representations corresponding to the linked sourcecontact records of the linked contact record are displayed with eachlinked source contact record representation having a displayedcorresponding source contact record representation link icon thatindicates the linked status of it respective linked source contactrecord. In response to selection of a source contact recordrepresentation link icon of a linked source contact recordrepresentation corresponding to a linked source contact record of thelinked contact record, the link of the selected source contact record tothe linked contact record is removed. Removing the link of the selectedsource contact record to the linked contact record does not delete theunlinked source contact record. Following removal of a link, the linkedstatus of the unlinked source contact record is updated to unlinked, andthe updated source contact record representation link icon displayed.Further, in response to selection of the updated source contact recordrepresentation link icon of the previously unlinked source contactrecord, the link to the linked contact record of the previously unlinkedsource contact record can be restored, and the linked status of thesource contact record representation link icon of the restored sourcecontact record updated to linked.

Saving changes to a linked contact record of a contact made in themanage mode creates a changed linked contact record. The changed linkedcontact record and a visual indicator of the changed linked contactrecord can be displayed, and may be displayed in a contact detail panelof the user interface. This may further include displaying a badge ofthe visual indicator of the changed linked contact record in the contactdetails panel of the user interface that indicates the number of sourcecontact records that make up the changed linked contact record

The implementations of the present disclosure described above areintended to be examples only. Those of skill in the art can effectalterations, modifications and variations to the particular exampleembodiments herein without departing from the intended scope of thepresent disclosure. Moreover, selected features from one or more of theabove-described example embodiments can be combined to createalternative example embodiments not explicitly described herein.

It will be appreciated that any module or component disclosed hereinthat executes instructions may include or otherwise have access tonon-transient and tangible computer readable media such as storagemedia, computer storage media, or data storage devices (removable ornon-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, ortape data storage. Computer storage media may include volatile andnon-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information, such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.Examples of computer storage media include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flashmemory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD)or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other mediumwhich can be used to store the desired information and which can beaccessed by an application, module, or both. Any such computer storagemedia may be part of the server, any component of or related to thenetwork, backend, etc., or accessible or connectable thereto. Anyapplication or module herein described may be implemented using computerreadable/executable instructions that may be stored or otherwise held bysuch computer readable media.

The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedexample embodiments are to be considered in all respects only asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is,therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes that come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of managing a linked contact recordrepresentative of contact information from multiple sources, comprising:after receiving selection of a linked contact record of a contact, thatincludes a plurality of linked source contact records of the contact,displaying in a user interface the linked contact record and a visualindicator that the linked contact record has a linked status; and afterreceiving an input to enter a manage mode, entering the manage mode inwhich the linked contact record of the contact can be selectivelymanaged.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein selection of the linkedcontact record comprises selection of the linked contact record from acontact list displayed in the user interface.
 3. The method of claim 2,further comprising displaying the linked contact record and the visualindicator of the linked contact record in a contact detail panel of theuser interface after receiving selection of the linked contact record.4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying a badge of thevisual indicator with the linked contact record in the contact detailspanel of the user interface, wherein the badge of the visual indicatorindicates the number of linked source contact records of the linkedcontact record.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the visualindicator of the linked contact record indicating the number of linkedsource contact records of the linked contact record.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, further comprising displaying a badge of the visual indicatorof the linked contact record that indicates the number of linked sourcecontact records of the linked contact record.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising in the manage mode displaying in the user interface alinked contact record representation of the linked contact record and aplurality of source contact record representations corresponding to aplurality of source contact records that comprise the plurality oflinked source contact records of the linked contact record.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the plurality of source contact recordrepresentations corresponding to the plurality of source contact recordsare displayed as indented under the linked contact recordrepresentation.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising displayingthe linked contact record representation and the plurality of sourcecontact record representations in a linked profile panel of the userinterface.
 10. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying foreach source contact record representation a source contact recordrepresentation link icon that indicates a link status of the sourcecontact record represented by the source contact record representationto the linked contact record.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thelink status of the source contact record representation link icon foreach linked source contact record of the plurality of linked sourcecontact records is linked.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the linkstatus of the source contact record representation link icons of theplurality of source contact record representations corresponding to theplurality of source contact records other than the plurality of linkedsource contact records is unlinked.
 13. The method of claim 10, whereinthe link status of the source contact record to the linked contactrecord indicated by the source contact record representation link iconis linked or unlinked.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising inthe manage mode displaying in the user interface an add link icon. 15.The method of claim 14, further comprising: after receiving an input toselect the add link icon and to select a new source contact record ofthe contact adding a link to the new source contact record to create anew linked contact record of the contact, the plurality of linked sourcecontact records of the new linked contact record comprising the selectednew source contact record; and displaying the new linked contact recordof the contact in the user interface
 16. The method of claim 15, theselection of the new source contact record of the contact furthercomprising: in response to a received search term, performing a searchfor available source contact records of the contact; and in response toselection of the new source contact record returned by the search,adding the link to the new source contact record to create the newlinked contact record of the contact.
 17. The method of claim 15,further comprising updating a visual indicator of the new linked contactrecord to reflect the new source contact record in the plurality oflinked source contact records for the new linked contact record of thecontact.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising updating a badgeof the visual indicator of the new linked contact record.
 19. The methodof claim 1, further comprising in the manage mode removing a link of alinked source contact record of the plurality of linked source contactrecords to the linked contact record.
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein removing the link of the linked source contact record to thelinked contact record further comprises: a linked profile panel of theuser interface in which a linked contact record representation of thelinked contact record and a plurality of linked source contact recordrepresentations corresponding to the plurality of linked source contactrecords of the linked contact record are displayed with each linkedsource contact record representation of the plurality of linked sourcecontact record representations having a displayed corresponding sourcecontact record representation link icon that indicates the linked statusof each of the linked source contact records, in response to selectionof a source contact record representation link icon of a linked sourcecontact record representation corresponding to a linked source contactrecord of the linked contact record removing the link of the selectedsource contact record to the linked contact record.
 21. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising: updating to unlinked the linked status ofthe source contact record representation link icon of the selectedsource contact record; and displaying the updated source contact recordrepresentation link icon of the selected source contact record.
 22. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising: in response to selection of theupdated source contact record representation link icon of the previouslyunlinked source contact record, restoring the link to the linked contactrecord of the previously unlinked source contact record; and updating tolinked the linked status of the source contact record representationlink icon of the restored source contact record.
 23. The method of claim1, further comprising: saving changes to the linked contact record ofthe contact made in the manage mode to create a changed linked contactrecord; and displaying the changed linked contact record and a visualindicator of the changed linked contact record.
 24. The method of claim23, further comprising displaying the changed linked contact record andthe visual indicator of the changed linked contact record in a contactdetail panel of the user interface; and displaying a badge of the visualindicator of the changed linked contact record in the contact detailspanel of the user interface that indicates the number of source contactrecords of the plurality of linked source contact records that comprisethe changed linked contact record.
 25. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising: exiting the manage mode.
 26. The method of claim 1, whereinthe visual indicator comprises a link icon.
 27. The method of claim 26,wherein receiving an input to enter the manage mode comprises receivingselection of the link icon.
 28. A system, comprising: a processor; and acontacts database coupled to the processor in which a plurality ofcontacts about the plurality of contacts are stored, the processor andcontacts database configured to: after receiving selection of a linkedcontact record of a contact, that includes a plurality of linked sourcecontact records of the contact, display in a user interface the linkedcontact record and a visual indicator of the linked contact record has alinked status; and after receiving an input to enter a manage mode,enter the manage mode in which the linked contact record of the contactcan be selectively managed.
 29. The system of claim 28, wherein theprocessor and the contacts database are further configured to: providefor selection of the linked contact record comprises selection of thelinked contact record from a contact list displayed in the userinterface and display the linked contact record and the visual indicatorof the linked contact record in a contact detail panel of the userinterface after receiving selection of the linked contact record. 30.The system of claim 29, wherein the processor and the contacts databaseare further configured to: display a badge of the visual indicator withthe linked contact record in the contact details panel of the userinterface, wherein the badge of the visual indicator indicates thenumber of linked source contact records of the linked contact record.31. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor and the contactsdatabase are further configured to: in the manage mode display in theuser interface a linked contact record representation of the linkedcontact record and a plurality of source contact record representationscorresponding to a plurality of source contact records that comprise theplurality of linked source contact records of the linked contact record.32. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor and the contactsdatabase are further configured to: in the manage mode display in theuser interface an add link icon; and after receiving an input to selectthe add link icon and to select a new source contact record of thecontact, add a link to the new source contact record to create a newlinked contact record of the contact, the plurality of linked sourcecontact records of the new linked contact record comprising the selectednew source contact record; and display the new linked contact record ofthe contact in the user interface.
 33. The system of claim 28, whereinthe processor and the contacts database are further configured to: inthe manage mode remove a link of a linked source contact record of theplurality of linked source contact records to the linked contact record.34. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor and the contactsdatabase are further configured to: in a linked profile panel of theuser interface in which a linked contact record representation of thelinked contact record and a plurality of linked source contact recordrepresentations corresponding to the plurality of linked source contactrecords of the linked contact record are displayed with each linkedsource contact record representation of the plurality of linked sourcecontact record representations having a displayed corresponding sourcecontact record representation link icon that indicates the linked statusof each of the linked source contact records, in response to selectionof a source contact record representation link icon of a linked sourcecontact record representation corresponding to a linked source contactrecord of the linked contact record remove the link of the selectedsource contact record to the linked contact record.
 35. The system ofclaim 34, wherein the processor and the contacts database are furtherconfigured to: update to unlinked the linked status of the sourcecontact record representation link icon of the selected source contactrecord; and display the updated source contact record representationlink icon of the selected source contact record.
 36. The system of claim35, wherein the processor and the contacts database are furtherconfigured to: in response to selection of the updated source contactrecord representation link icon of the previously unlinked sourcecontact record, restore the link to the linked contact record of thepreviously unlinked source contact record; and update to linked thelinked status of the source contact record representation link icon ofthe restored source contact record.
 37. The system of claim 28, whereinthe processor and the contacts database are further configured to: savechanges to the linked contact record of the contact made in the managemode to create a changed linked contact record; and display the changedlinked contact record and a visual indicator of the changed linkedcontact record.
 38. The system of claim 37, wherein the processor andthe contacts database are further configured to: exit the manage mode.39. The system of claim 28, wherein the visual indicator comprises alink icon.
 40. The system of claim 39, wherein receiving an input toenter the manage mode comprises receiving selection of the link icon.41. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executableinstructions for causing a server comprising a processor and anassociated contacts database to manage a linked contact recordrepresentative of contact information from multiple sources, comprising:after receiving selection of a linked contact record of a contact, thatincludes a plurality of linked source contact records of the contact,displaying in a user interface the linked contact record and a visualindicator that the linked contact record has a linked status; and afterreceiving an input to enter a manage mode, entering the manage mode inwhich the linked contact record of the contact can be selectivelymanaged.